CHIAPAS MORE GUATEMALAN
THAN MEXICAN
 From the biogeographical
perspective there's a significant difference between the highlands extending from the US
through Mexico all the way south to Oaxaca state south of Mexico City, and the highlands
of Chiapas. The difference is caused by the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. As the map at the
right shows, the Isthmus is Mexico's narrow neck connecting the "mainland" to
the north and west with the Yucatan and Chiapas to the south and east. The Isthmus's
landscape is so low that engineers periodically consider cutting a canal across it, from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, thus bypassing the Panama Canal.
To plants and animals adapted for upland environments, the lowland Isthmus constitutes
an ecological barrier. Lots of species are found on one side of the Isthmus or the other,
but not both sides.
For example, White-breasted Nuthatches occupy highlands from the US to well south of
Mexico City, but don't occur in Chiapas. The same is true of American Robins, Bewick's
Wren, Western Bluebirds, Horned Larks, Black- headed Grosbeaks, Curve-billed Thrashers,
Scrub Jays and others.
By the same token, several species extend from the Central American highlands into
Chiapas's highlands, but not to the other side of the Isthmus. For example there's the
Bar-winged Oriole, Blue Seedeater, Yellow-throated Brushfinch and the Slender Sheartail
Hummingbird.
On the other hand, many species do appear on both sides of the Isthmus, either with a
continuous distribution or discontinuously. The Isthmus's lowlands aren't really all that
extensive after all. Any bird or airborne seed not making it across such a small distance
probably isn't trying too hard.
Still, biologically, Chiapas belongs more to Central America than to Mexico. There's
not a Pauraque- whisker's difference between Chiapas and Guatemala. |